Fraud & Error Reduction Incentive 
Scheme (FERIS) – Bid Fund

Bid Fund Application Form

DWP is supporting local authorities (LAs) to tackle Fraud and Error (F&E) in Housing Benefit (HB). FERIS aims to encourage LAs to find more changes of circumstances which reduce HB entitlement. The bid fund will help LAs deliver new and innovative ideas and joint working arrangements.

This form should be submitted to feris.team@dwp.gsi.gov.uk no later than 2 March 2015.  Any queries about the fund should also be submitted to this address. Early applications are encouraged to facilitate LAs receiving payment as early as possible. 

Section A: Applicant contact information

LA name: 	Click here to enter text.	
Name of contact(s): 	Click here to enter text.	
Position in authority: 	Click here to enter text.	
Telephone number(s) of the contact(s): 	Click here to enter text.	
Email address of the contact(s):	Click here to enter text.	

Section B: Eligibility criteria

Please complete as appropriate: 
The LA opts-in to the Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme	YES/NO	
All expenditure will be spent on F&E activities	YES/NO	
The application demonstrates that funding will support meeting the LAs FERIS threshold or reducing HB F&E	YES/NO	
The LA agrees to provide relevant information for DWP to monitor and verify progress and spending	YES/NO	
The proposal has been signed off by the Responsible Financial Officer	YES/NO	
The bidding authority will return any unspent monies after 2015/16	YES/NO	

Section C: Project description 

Project Summary (500 words maximum): Please outline the key elements of the proposal and how the funding will be used, and explain how the proposal will contribute to meeting/exceeding the FERIS threshold or improve F&E.

Click here to enter text

Funding Requirement: Please state the total amount you are bidding for and set out what you estimate the return on investment to be

Total grant sought:

Bidding partners: Please describe details the reasons behind any proposed partnership or joint working arrangements. Include the name of any LA partners, and specify the lead LA. 

Click here to enter text.

Other bids: If you submitted other applications for the start-up fund or bid fund please list all other bids 

Click here to enter text.

DCLG Counter Fraud Challenge Fund: If you have successfully bid for funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Counter Fraud Challenge Fund (CFCF) (in England), please describe the activities covered by the CFCF bid, state how much funding you received, and confirm that there is no overlap or duplication of work/savings between the CFCF funded activities and the FERIS bid proposals. Please attach the CFCF application. FERIS funding will only be available to cover new activity not those already covered by existing funding such as that provided by DCLG.

Click here to enter text.

Section D: Financial savings and benefits

Your bid should provide reasonable estimates as to how the funds will result in additional HB F&E weekly reductions.

Expenditure
Please use this box to detail the how the funding will be spent, indicating the quarter and year. Additional rows can be added as necessary.
Description of expense	2014/15 
Dec - Mar	2015/16 Quarter 1	2015/16 Quarter 2	2015/16 Quarter 3	2015/16 Quarter 4	
E.g. Training or marketing						

Total funding requested

Please use the box below to provide:
•	an explanation of why you believe the costs to be reasonable and confirmation that all costs associated with the proposal have been identified;
•	that financial risks have been identified and mitigation plans are in place (a risk register can be attached)
•	the governance arrangements necessary to take this forward are in place

Click here to enter text.

Estimated F&E reductions in weekly benefit entitlement

Please use this box to estimate the reductions in HB entitlement that will result from the funding. The savings identified below must be additional to those that would be realised through ‘business as usual’ activities. Additional rows and columns can be added as necessary. 

2014/15 Dec - Mar
	2015/16 
Quarter 1	2015/16 
Quarter 2	2015/16 
Quarter 3	2015/16 Quarter 4	
					
Total savings		

Please use the box below to provide reasonable estimates of how the estimated reductions in HB have been calculated, including any evidence to support your estimates.

Click here to enter text.

Section G: Procurement Strategy

If the bid includes procurement, please outline the procurement strategy including evidence of compliance with European Procurement Rules as relevant. 
  
Click here to enter text.

Section H: Other Information 

Please use this section to provide any additional information that you think assessors may require to evaluate your bid (250 words maximum).

Click here to enter text.

 Section I: Approval 

Approval: Bid should be approved and signed off by the Section 151 Officer (England and Wales), or the Section 95 Officer (Scotland) for each LA partner to the application. 

Name	Click here to enter text.	
Signature	Click here to enter text.	
Organisation	Click here to enter text.	
Position in local authority	Click here to enter text.	
Date Approved	Click here to enter text.	

Additional approval for joint applications only:
 
Name	Click here to enter text.	
Signature	Click here to enter text.	
Organisation	Click here to enter text.	
Position in local authority	Click here to enter text.	
Date Approved	Click here to enter text.	

Name	Click here to enter text.	
Signature	Click here to enter text.	
Organisation	Click here to enter text.	
Position in local authority	Click here to enter text.	
Date Approved	Click here to enter text.	

Disclaimer
There shall be no expectation of grant until authorities have been formally notified in writing by the department. All the Applicant’s costs and charges incurred as a result of making this application shall be for the applicant’s account and cannot be claimed as part of the project.	

The Data Protection Act: Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Department for Work and Pensions undertakes to use its best endeavours to hold confidential any information provided in any application form submitted, subject to our contracting obligations under law, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If you consider that any of the information submitted in the application form should not be disclosed because of its sensitivity then this should be stated with the reason for considering it sensitive. The department will then consult with you in considering any request received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 before replying to such a request.

Applicants should be aware that the following conditions will also apply to all start-up fund applications:
•	We may use your information for the purposes of research and statistical analysis and may share anonymised information with other government departments, agencies or third parties for research and statistical analysis and reporting purposes.
•	Our policies and procedures in relation to the application and evaluation of grants are subject to audit and review by both internal and external auditors. Your information may be subject to such audit and review.
•	We propose to include light touch monitoring by monitoring the return on investment of funding. We would encourage applicants to regularly publicise progress on their websites and disseminate good practice. 
•	The department may publish information relating to successful start-up fund applications.